BiggerPockets

I would imagine that a lot depends on the laws in your state.

In Maryland, once the executor is announced... meaning the estate has cleared probate... has been the best time to approach the estate.

This has worked extremely well for myself and those who are working this approach.

I believe to start the process earlier would be a waste of time and would probably upset a lot of people with the precieved calousness of an investor looking for a deal.

Is the Executor the same as the personal representative of the estate ?

Also, are you sending these people letters or postcards?

Peter, thanks again.

I am assuming that you are sending form letters?

Thanks
-Terry

Put them on a drip campaign - we do every 60 days for 6 hits. You see an increase in response rate after the 3rd and 4th hit. Be sure to personalize the letter - oh and yellow letters are very good for this market.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

I mail to the executer/personal representive directly using a mix of letters, yellow letters and postcards.

I mail to estates with and without wills.

Dan thanks. Ill prob still hit a few just for testing.

You can tell me "Told ya so" later :)

Here's an interesting post from one of our users on probate marketing, and it includes some timelines that should come in handy:
The New Way to Market to Probates

Dan - I just asked her to chime in.

I try to go back and look at these outstanding houses quarterly, but as I said in my article it is more like 3 times a year that it actually gets done. I look up the property on the tax assessor's website. It will show if they have been sold. It is definitely a pain in the neck, but you have to do it.

From the very beginning, I entered my probates by month and year. That makes it much easier to check them. I can take one month at a time. I use an Act database for my contacts. I am entering new folks in the database every month, so the list will grow too big if you don't edit them.

I have definitely seen a trend that mirrors the local market whereby a high percentage of these houses still aren't sold from 2010. I take this as "good luck" for local investors.

Hey Michael G -

6 months is way too soon to quit. Some of these folks don't even begin to work on selling the property for a year or more. Some of my best deals have come from folks that have waited and waited, then suddenly want the house gone this week.